"It begins with a house, or perhaps with a warm, welcoming flame, or perhaps with the intrepid journey of a mouse who travels over a hill, across a river, and into an asparagus patch to find a home. Gentle, straightforward text and onomatopoeia recount the mouse's efforts to envision what could be before it is there . A thoughtful tale for engineers young and old." - Kirkus Reviews "When a mouse discovers a 'warm and welcoming' flame in an asparagus patch one cold day, she makes the first in a series of life-changing decisions. The construction theme is a natural for Hall, who builds his images from simple, bright-colored shapes . As readers appreciate Hall's graphic inventiveness, they can also ponder how much comfort and company a hearth can provide." - Publishers Weekly "With the graphic minimalism of a simple group of shapes or the squiggle of a line, a house mouse creates a space that evolves into a house for all. This simple book is a timely addition to titles that encourage social emotional learning as it presents a step-by-step transformation that echoes safety with an enduring welcome and empathy for newcomers.
" - School Library Journal (starred review) "With the graphic minimalism of a simple group of shapes or the squiggle of a line, a house mouse creates a space that evolves into a house for all. This simple book is a timely addition to titles that encourage social emotional learning as it presents a step-by-step transformation that echoes safety with an enduring welcome and empathy for newcomers." - School Library Journal (starred review) "It all begins when a tiny mouse finds something remarkable in a wild asparagus patch. The soundscaping elements . will lend themselves brilliantly to read-alouds, child participation, and dramatization . This is a sweet, original, well-structured story about how leading with our warm, welcoming impulses will serve and protect us all." - Booklist "A story of perseverance and hospitality, Hall's latest follows a hardworking mouse and her home-building journey. Hall's use of onomatopoeia and geometric shapes (a triangle for the mouse's body; rectangles for the house's frame and floor) naturally emphasize and extend the construction theme.
Vignettes highlighting the protagonist's industriousness are interwoven with double-page spreads depicting cutaway and interior views of her cozy home. This tale of a mouse and her house is aglow with tenacity, generosity, and good cheer." - Horn Book Magazine.